Fighting spirit can see Scots through

Scotland coach Andy Robinson did not have to think long and hard when asked whether he thinks his squad will rise to the occasion in their do-or-die match against England on Saturday.

"I think you just have to look at what happened after we played the All Blacks last year, where we were comfortably beaten,'' said Robinson on Tuesday following the Scots' arrival in Auckland to prepare for the match at Eden Park.

"The following week we beat South Africa and we beat them with a comprehensive performance from everybody. We know what we need to do and there is total trust in the whole squad that mentally and physically they are able to rise to the challenge."

With 10 points, Scotland are tied with Argentina for second place in Pool B behind the English, and Robinson said his players had put the weekend's frustrating defeat to the Pumas behind them.

"We had 24 hours to get rid of all our frustrations, emotions, and people do it in different ways. You know how inward I can get sometimes and it's important to go there because the guys put a lot of hard work into their performance and it was disappointing to lose the game. Particulary in the manner that we did.

"But we've got through that. Today is really the first day that we now start focusing on England and there is a real vibrancy about the team.

Fighting for life

"Everybody understands that it is still in our control (whether Scotland will progress to the quarter-finals) and we've got to go out and put in a top performance on Saturday against England."

Given that victory will not in itself ensure his men qualify for the knockout stage, the veteran coach was asked whether he had any strategy in mind to go for the bonus point.

"The first thing we have got to do is win the game. And that is how we will approach this. We have got to look at how we will win the game,'' he said. "England are a good side. Contrary to what a lot of people write about them, they are a quality team. They won the Six Nations and they have got a good blend to the way they play.

"They have conceded but one try in the tournament so far, so they have defended well and they are a well-organised side."

The England players, meanwhile, know they must match Scotland's intensity in the match.

"The way we play every game is like fighting for your life,'' said James Haskell. "If you don't, very quickly you can be looking at your boarding pass thinking, 'I should have been more involved'. You don't want to leave that England shirt without a great performance, a do-or-die thing.

"You put everything on the line and that is how a team wins the World Cup.

"We will be fighting as if it is our last game."